How life has changed in South Oxfordshire

South Oxfordshire's population increased by about 6,100 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the key changes among the local population.

The population passed 130,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of South Oxfordshire increased by 4.7%, from just over 128,000 to 134,000.

The addition of almost 6,100 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, South Oxfordshire was home to, on average, 1.4 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was lower than the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older South Oxfordshire

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of South Oxfordshire increased by four years, from 38 to 42 years.

This area had a higher average age than the South East and remained somewhat older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of about 4,000 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just under 5,000.

About 12.0% of people in South Oxfordshire are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and South Oxfordshire by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in South Oxfordshire

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in South Oxfordshire was among those who said they had no religion, rising 11.6 points.

In 2011, 29.3% of respondents in South Oxfordshire gave this answer to the question on religion, compared with 17.7% of those who answered in 2001.

Across the South East, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion and described themselves as having no religion increased from 17.9% to 30.1%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in South Oxfordshire, 68.7% said they were Christian, compared with 80.9% in 2001. About 0.6% said they were Muslim, compared with 0.4% a decade prior.

In South Oxfordshire, 7.5% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 6.8% in 2001. Across the South East, 7.4% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 7.7% in 2001.

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as differing patterns of ageing or of moving to or from an area for work or education. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population that said they had no religion in South Oxfordshire increased by 12 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, South East and South Oxfordshire by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in South Oxfordshire

The percentage of South Oxfordshire residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 2.0% to 2.6% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 7.2%, while the percentage of South Oxfordshire residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 90.8% to 90.1%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.5% in 2001 to 3.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in South Oxfordshire working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 15.6% to 12.1% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.9%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.9% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 14.3% in 2001 to 11.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13.0% to 10.1%.

Long hour working in South Oxfordshire decreased by 3.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in South Oxfordshire, the South East and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in South Oxfordshire, but at a slower rate than in Oxford (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with South Oxfordshire).

In South Oxfordshire, the proportion of private renting increased from 9.9% in 2001 to 13.3% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Oxford increased from 20.6% to 28.2%.

Across the South East, the share of privately rented homes increased from 10.2% to 16.5%.

The rate of social housing in South Oxfordshire remained close to 11.4%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 76.3% to 72.9%.

Private renting in South Oxfordshire increased by 3.4 percentage points

Percentage of households in South Oxfordshire, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of South Oxfordshire residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 5.7% to 3.4% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 9 in 10 (85.9%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 74.7% in 2001. The percentage of South Oxfordshire residents that described their health as fair decreased from 19.6% to 10.7%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in South Oxfordshire decreased by 2.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in South Oxfordshire, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in South Oxfordshire

The percentage of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased in South Oxfordshire, but at a slower rate than across England.

In South Oxfordshire, the proportion of single people increased from 25.6% in 2001 to 28.0% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion across England increased from 30.5% to 34.9%.

Across the South East, the share of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased from 28.5% to 32.1%.

The proportion of married people in South Oxfordshire fell from 57.6% to 55.0%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 9.4% to 10.3%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in South Oxfordshire

In 2011, 96.1% of South Oxfordshire residents said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, making it the most common ethnicity in this local authority area. The population from these groups has increased from 97.9% in 2001.

Across the South East, the percentage of people from one of the White ethnic groups decreased from 95.3% to 90.9%, while across England the percentage went from 90.7% to 85.1%.

Around 1.8% of people in South Oxfordshire said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, compared with 0.8% in 2001. About 1.3% said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), compared with 0.7% a decade prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from 0.4% to 0.6%.

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as differing patterns of ageing or of moving to or from an area for work or education. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from one of the White ethnic groups in South Oxfordshire decreased by 1.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and South Oxfordshire by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing household dynamics

The percentage of households in South Oxfordshire, which comprised one person, decreased from 25.9% to 25.4% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just under 1 in 10 (9.5%) households had an unmarried couple, compared with 8.4% in 2001. The percentage of households in South Oxfordshire which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 44.0% to 41.3%.

The proportion of one-person households fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (which remained close to 29.0%). Across England, the percentage remained close to 30.3%.

The percentage of households with only one person was lower than across the South East

Percentage of households that comprised only one person across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of South Oxfordshire residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 0.7% to 0.9% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, 1.6% of reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 1.3% in 2001.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 0.8% in 2001 to 1.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in South Oxfordshire remained close to 0.9%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and South Oxfordshire by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing work life

The percentage of South Oxfordshire residents that were studying increased from 2.1% to 2.2% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (57.4%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 58.3% in 2001. The percentage of South Oxfordshire residents that were unemployed increased from 1.7% to 2.5%.

The proportion of students increased here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.7% in 2001 to 3.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.6% to 3.5%.

The percentage of students was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were in education across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Families in South Oxfordshire

The percentage of households with children changed very little here, while the proportion increased in nearby Oxford.

In South Oxfordshire, the proportion of households with children stayed close to 30.0% between the last two censuses. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Oxford increased from 24.4% to 26.8%.

Across the South East, the share of households with children increased from 29.0% to 29.2%.

The proportion of households without children in South Oxfordshire fell from 61.1% to 60.4%, while the proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents increased from 9.0% to 9.6%.

The proportion of households with children was higher than across the South East

Percentage of households with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

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